Instead of whining, Mayor Neil O’Leary of Waterbury mustered a brigade of shovelers.

More than 500 residents, most of them teenagers, earned minimum wage Tuesday to help the city shovel out. The shovel-ready project continues today.

The Waterbury Observer notes:

There was an astounding response to Mayor Neil O’Leary’s offer to pay [...]

The General Assembly Environment Committee will turn to climate change and rising sea level this week. Right on schedule. Among the “concepts to raise” on the committee’s agenda this morning:

12. AN ACT CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND DATA COLLECTION

13. AN ACT CONCERNING A BEST PRACTICES GUIDE FOR COASTAL STRUCTURES [...]

President Obama signed a declaration of emergency in the state of Connecticut Sunday, providing federal assistance to help the state recover from the blizzard that dumped up to 40 inches of snow in some areas over the weekend. Gov. Malloy requested the declaration on Saturday.

FEMA will provide emergency assistance to help with storm response, [...]

FEMA put out a statement Saturday telling residents in states hit by the blizzard to look out for one another.

“Everyone has a role to play in the response to this winter storm,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, who urged residents to listen to advice from state officials on traveling and check on elderly individuals [...]

OK. Now we know it’s real. Gov. Malloy will be holding a press conference tonight at 6 from the EOC.